tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74287621083009603902011-05-17T07:10:28.761-04:00THIS IS A BLOG STARTED BY A QUALITY MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE FOR THE PUPOSE OF SHARING THOUGHTS ABOUT HOSPITAL QUALITY, PATIENT SAFETY, PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT, AND US HEALTHCARE ISSUES.Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-80625568743220935822009-03-02T15:32:00.011-05:002009-03-02T16:44:18.009-05:00

source: NYTimes, Feb. 25, 2009 The EditorsPresident Barack Obama said in his speech to Congress that the nation must address “the crushing cost of health care,” with premiums having grown four times faster than wages in the past eight years and one million more Americans having lost health insurance each of those years. Reform won’t be easy, he said, but it cannot wait another year.We asked some

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-44523967526709141102009-02-24T18:24:00.006-05:002009-02-24T18:34:37.166-05:00

Listen, as Jack Welch explains the virtues of a six-sigma organization. Is it reasonable to conclude that hospitals should adapt a similar approach to service excellence and patient satisfaction? After all, the primary customer is the patient.Brief Bio - Jack WelchEducation: University of Massachusetts–Amherst, BS, 1957; University of Illinois–Champaign, MA, 1958; PhD, 1960John F. Welch, Jr.—who

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-26678172033961457792009-02-22T14:09:00.001-05:002009-02-22T14:13:40.608-05:00

This self administered assessment poses statements regarding specific attributes within areas that Maverick Healthcare Consultants has determined to be critical "quality markers." It is designed to help you move beyond a "gut feel" to see how your organization stacks up against a variety of critical dimensions of quality. Hopefully you will learn something that challenges your assumptions

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-3593035519791686942009-02-22T13:11:00.018-05:002009-02-22T18:26:43.696-05:00

Hospital quality professionals (HQPs) often find themselves participating in numerous meetings within the hospital. In fact, as part of the roles and responsibilities of the HQP, they will chair (or share leadership) a half dozen of these hospital-wide committees. Obviously, managing these monthly (or quarterly) meetings takes significant time and energy. Some committees are required by

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-29617962310293397242009-02-16T15:30:00.005-05:002009-02-22T14:17:55.299-05:00

One does not have to venture far into the Healthcare Quality literature, before coming across the first-rate research of The Commonwealth Fund.In determining the best approach in developing and sustaining a Hospital Quality Program, I refer the readership to a paper published in July 2004 (Meyer, Silow-Carroll, Kutyla et. al.). Another paper published in November 2003 (World Health Organization)

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-594610411308339932009-02-15T15:14:00.028-05:002009-02-15T16:53:36.520-05:00

Generally speaking, the healthcare quality professional (HQP) looks forward to attending national and regional conferences. Often, these annual events serve as the greatest opportunity for the HQP to interact with peers and like-minded folks. By the time general session begins (i.e. Press Ganey, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Greeley Co.) there is a high degree of enthusiasm, zeal, and

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-54996751987197219072009-02-08T09:47:00.039-05:002009-02-08T12:15:47.698-05:00

Much the same way collegiate athletics structure, measure, and define their respective programs, hospital quality professionals can benefit by following a similar approach.For example, a typical college football program consists of standard domains of work and accountability. The program continuously strives to improve the areas of work and levels of effectiveness so that it may achieve a

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-9355884823160179092009-02-03T17:49:00.025-05:002009-02-03T18:43:29.136-05:00

In the work place, you will often interface with an array of personalities. In most cases, this diversity brings strength and stimulation to the work place environment. However, if you are a quality professional in a hospital, you must be watchful and aware of one personality in particular. . . . .the Eeyore.Using industry jargon, we refer to these individuals as "late adopters" or "non-believers

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-53446327600846204552009-01-31T14:25:00.003-05:002009-01-31T14:34:05.945-05:00

Listen to this video as the surgeon (Toronto General Hospital) and his surgical team executes the World Health Organization's (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist. The Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) has challenged all US hospitals to a "sprint." The checklist should be implemented in the operating room theatre by April 1, 2009.You might want to start with a single surgeon and evaluate

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-46853695714715546702009-01-27T16:17:00.012-05:002009-01-27T17:12:23.253-05:00

What is the best approach in gathering accurate and actionable information regarding "near misses" in a hospital setting?Reporting "near misses" should be a basic expectation in a healthcare provider environment. However, if a punitive culture exists staff are less likely to report these events. Furthermore, if the reporting process is complex and involves paper-pushing, a higher degree of

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-48414797374832341192009-01-25T14:39:00.016-05:002009-01-25T15:37:07.914-05:00

In 2001 the Institute of Medicine published their second great work entitled, Crossing the Quality Chasm. In that work, the IOM defined six (6) dimensions of healthcare; the essentials in yielding a "quality" healthcare product. These dimensions can be easily remembered via the acronym STEEPE:SafetyTimelinessEffectivenessEfficiencyPatient CenterednessEquityWhat if there was a Hospital Quality

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-10961530321131882312009-01-20T09:31:00.008-05:002009-01-20T09:36:50.866-05:00

Watch the brief video as it spans across the Washington Mall.

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-45337710742818194392009-01-19T16:19:00.007-05:002009-01-20T09:16:20.691-05:00

Listen, as MLK III, bridges the generation of his father with the historical context and rise of Barack Obama.

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-13470936075600497382009-01-17T09:47:00.010-05:002009-01-17T10:50:39.285-05:00

Developing a meaningful hospital-wide dashboard is an essential task for a senior leadership team to address. Yet, pursuing a dashboard and implementing a dashboard are not strategies. Rather, these are examples of tactics. The dashboard, itself, should be aligned to the strategic objectives.Thus, there is an assumption that the 1 year, 3 year, 5 year strategic objectives of a hospital are sound

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-75285134163109069012009-01-14T18:22:00.003-05:002009-01-14T18:37:09.414-05:00

Paul Levy is a fierce and effective leader, a role model in the industry of hospital management. He is out in front of his executive peers in exercising one of the most important patient-centered-values . . . transparency. Listen, to the video, as Levy provides insight into his methods of raising transparency and quality standards within a major urban center. As one might imagine, competitors

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-91154421736995912592009-01-13T17:36:00.020-05:002009-01-13T19:43:35.781-05:00

A colleague approached me in the hallway, yesterday, and asked if I could define "Quality." Brilliant! This is the best question that I have been asked since the new year.At the end of the day, do we all agree on the same definition? How can you improve what you cannot define? How can one ask others to join in the effort, if one cannot articulate the product?Webster's Dictionary defines Quality

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-24394067757031919642009-01-12T08:05:00.004-05:002009-01-12T08:26:10.950-05:00

If you haven't read Atul Gawande's 2007 book, "Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance," please invest today. You will not be disappointed. I believe it is required reading for healthcare quality professionals, let alone clinical providers.However, do not take my word for it. Listen, as this plastic surgeon praises Dr. Gawande for his scholarship and relevance.I had the pleasure of meeting

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-15228139922929974242009-01-10T10:54:00.035-05:002009-01-10T12:37:54.635-05:00

Indeed, all hospital employees, regardless of rank, should be embassadors of quality for the benefit of patients and their families.In previous posts, I have written about the essential roles of the Board of Directors and the C-suite. Individual roles are important, however, regular communication, teamwork, accountability, and consensus are even more critical to building a top performing

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-57263660874615854482009-01-07T10:38:00.005-05:002009-01-07T12:24:36.500-05:00

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-76904434900516289772009-01-05T17:24:00.020-05:002009-01-05T18:00:51.457-05:00

When one thinks about quality and patient safety, the role and impact of the Chief Financial Officer doesn't immediately come to mind. Well, this mindset is beginning to change. In fact, some organizations have already made the transformation, for the better.As the business case for operational efficiency and process waste reduction becomes stronger within the hospital, the need for CFO (and COO)

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-70530576811099898752009-01-03T08:38:00.004-05:002009-01-03T09:14:04.214-05:00

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-70524138407272630542009-01-02T23:27:00.018-05:002009-01-03T00:33:09.841-05:00

     In a hospital, as with any organization, accountability starts at the top.  The Board of Directors must demand accountability from the CEO.  In turn, the CEO must demand accountability from the C-suite (i.e. CFO, CNO, HR, CMO, CQO, CIO).  I would argue that Quality and Patient Safety is not relegated, solely, to the clinical departments of a hospital. Quality is job #1.  Therefore, "quality"

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-32927889988142477282008-12-31T08:27:00.032-05:002008-12-31T14:45:27.143-05:00

If you have been to one Board Room meeting, you have been to many.  It is in this room, where the healthcare quality professional (i.e. Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Medical Officer/Vice President of Medical Affairs, Vice President of Performance Improvement, Director of Quality) must have a substantive presence and voice. Most importantly, this is the theatre where the Quality and Patient Safety

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-57788381832502020622008-12-30T08:24:00.020-05:002008-12-30T10:33:25.467-05:00

Before I turn my attention back to the principle organizational ingredients of a successful Hospital Quality Program, I want to briefly touch upon the CPHQ.Yes, the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) is an international accepted certification that provides the job market with a valuable method of evaluating one's knowledge in the content areas of healthcare quality, patient

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-746687979024032382008-12-29T09:34:00.024-05:002008-12-29T11:34:12.516-05:00

A set of questions to ponder:How do you know when you have successfully built a robust and sustainable Hospital Quality Program? How should "program" be defined in this context? How does a hospital determine when they have a comprehensive program in place versus disparate and broken processes. Do we have a national measure or metric that is easily portable and instructive across large and

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-43493480271995435322008-12-28T12:49:00.005-05:002008-12-29T11:38:04.387-05:00

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-27076370904328634802008-12-27T08:46:00.024-05:002008-12-29T11:37:00.235-05:00

Whether one works in a large urban teaching hospital or a small rural community, the professional life and responsibility of the Healthcare Quality Professional is arduous, and often times overwhelming.  The national hospital quality agenda contains essential elements such as: continuous preparedness for Joint Commission accreditation and/or state conditions of participation, data reporting

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428762108300960390.post-7765376356977614202008-12-26T10:40:00.008-05:002008-12-26T21:31:08.069-05:00

Season Greetings and Happy New Year - 2009!I have established this blog in order to join the national conversation pertaining to U.S. Hospital Quality and Patient Safety.  As a healthcare quality professional there continues to be significant challenges as well as meaningful rewards.  Most recently, I have been inspired by leaders such as: Paul Levy, CEO, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and

Kofi Cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671761347051614970noreply@blogger.com0